“Great things come in small packages.”

In his 34 years with Comerica Bank, Don Alessi has developed a healthy respect for the unsung, “little” men and women in the business community who make our communities go.

“That’s why I am so high on small businesses and entrepreneurs, because they really are the backbone of this economy,” said Alessi, Comerica vice president and national minority business development coordinator.

And statistics prove that he speaks the truth. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, they represent more than 95 percent of all employer firms and employ half of all private-sector employees.

Alessi comes face to face with many entrepreneurs and through his work he has a unique opportunity to provide assistance, primarily in the areas of supplier diversity and business development.

“Our commitment to supplier diversity allows us to accomplish the overall vision of Comerica and that is to help people be successful,” said Alessi, who is also treasurer of the board for the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC).

“We want our supplier base to mirror our customer base. It’s really a social thing and a business imperative. And unless corporate America embraces this as a whole, they are not going to be successful, because they won’t be doing business with the people who do business with them.”

Alessi says he and his colleagues also relish the opportunity to develop minority-owned businesses because the benefits are many for Comerica and the communities it serves.

“We have found that there a lot of start-ups or micro businesses that really grow within the communities we serve. And since one of Comerica’s areas of expertise is small business, we want to share this information, such as the Managing Your Business series with those entrepreneurs. Ultimately, we want to take those smaller businesses, many of them run by minority entrepreneurs, and grow them to a point where they can sell to and service the major businesses.”

Despite the challenges of today’s economy, Alessi says the gateway to entrepreneurship and small business owners is still open to any individual with a dream and the determination to take the necessary steps.

“For any young person today, first and foremost they need to reinforce their education,” he said. “They need both formal education and skills, and all kids need to learn how to use the computer to the maximum level. They also need to gain as much work experience as they can, as soon as they can. Look for internships or even offer up your skills to a merchant or a business. I think they will find that entrepreneurs will embrace this and the knowledge a young person would attain would be phenomenal.”

For adults who may be interested in creating an employment opportunity for themselves or others, Alessi said, “Look at retraining and utilize every resource out there. Go to all the various state, county and local agencies that can offer assistance. And faith-based organizations are also great sources for information. Also, look very closely at all job postings. See what kind of jobs are out there, what kind of skills are they asking for and educational background needed. From there you may be able to see where are the gaps in the market where you may be able to find a fit for your own enterprise.”

He continued, “For young people or adults who think they have the entrepreneurial spirit, it comes down to following your dreams and then building a plan around your dreams. There’s a lot of information that is available to help in this process – much of it free – and one of the best sources that often goes untapped are the entrepreneurs in our own communities.”

For additional small business information from Comerica, visit www.comerica.com. For additional information on the Michigan Minority Business Development Council, visit www.mmbdc.com or call (313) 873-3200.